U.S., Russia Near Pact Signing
On Restarting Uranium Accord

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. and Russia are expected to sign a $325 million contract on Thursday that will restart the stalled 1993 high-enriched uranium deal between the two countries.

The pact, the result of seven months of secret negotiations, will give the Russian government a flow of badly needed hard currency and prevent a surge of uranium from further depressing slumping market prices, government officials said.